Trojans go ejection free for sixth straight year

Published: Tuesday, April 30, 2013 at 08:30 PM.

TRENTON — At Jones Senior winning is nice, but doing it the right way — and losing with dignity — is far more important.

The NCHSAA announced on Monday that the tiny Jones County school is this year’s recipient of its annual Sportsmanship Award.

The award is “designed to recognize a school that has been ejection free, has a plan to promote and implement good sportsmanship, is welcoming to visiting fans, makes appropriate accommodations for officials and their own fans demonstrate good sportsmanship,” according to a press release sent out by the NCSHAA.

Producing winning programs is a priority for the Trojans, but seeing their student-athletes grow in character and integrity is far greater, Athletic Director Debbie Philyaw said.

“As a coach and an athletic director both, but speaking more from a coaches level because I’ve been that much longer, I think (sportsmanship) is sometimes more important than winning a game,” she said. “We all have flaws, and being able to understand that you made a mistake but not carrying it to the next level where you’re ejected. I think that’s a message that all coaches — not just (at Jones Senior) — try to instill in their athletes.”

While the honor is a first for the small 1A school, this school year marks the sixth in a row Jones Senior has gone without having a student-athlete ejected for misconduct from a contest.

TRENTON — At Jones Senior winning is nice, but doing it the right way — and losing with dignity — is far more important.

The NCHSAA announced on Monday that the tiny Jones County school is this year’s recipient of its annual Sportsmanship Award.

The award is “designed to recognize a school that has been ejection free, has a plan to promote and implement good sportsmanship, is welcoming to visiting fans, makes appropriate accommodations for officials and their own fans demonstrate good sportsmanship,” according to a press release sent out by the NCSHAA.

Producing winning programs is a priority for the Trojans, but seeing their student-athletes grow in character and integrity is far greater, Athletic Director Debbie Philyaw said.

“As a coach and an athletic director both, but speaking more from a coaches level because I’ve been that much longer, I think (sportsmanship) is sometimes more important than winning a game,” she said. “We all have flaws, and being able to understand that you made a mistake but not carrying it to the next level where you’re ejected. I think that’s a message that all coaches — not just (at Jones Senior) — try to instill in their athletes.”

While the honor is a first for the small 1A school, this school year marks the sixth in a row Jones Senior has gone without having a student-athlete ejected for misconduct from a contest.

The streak is something Philyaw hopes is never broken.

“I really feel like the kids have bought into what the coaches are trying to instill into them,” Philyaw said. “I’m very proud.”

Jones Senior will be recognized at the Dean E. Smith Center during Thursday’s annual year-end meeting, will receive a trophy and banner for its achievement and also gets a $1,000 cash prize.

Raleigh Millbrook will join Jones Senior at the meeting after earning the Exemplary School Award.

“Millbrook and Jones Senior have set themselves apart during the 2012-13 academic year by earning these prestigious honors,” NCHSAA Commissioner Davis Whitfield said in the release. “We applaud their commitments in the areas of sportsmanship and overall excellence.”

Philyaw couldn’t be more proud to be a part of Jones Senior — a school she’s been with for more than 25 years.

“I’m just extremely proud for our student-athletes, our fans and our coaches here at Jones Senior,” she said. “It’s taken a total effort from everyone for us to be able to get to this level.”

Ryan Herman can be reached at 252-559-1073 or Ryan.Herman@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter: @KFPSports.